Who is that dog with the book in its mouth?

Argos was an old dog owned by Odysseus, in Homer's The Odyssey. Living long past his prime, Argos couldn't do much but sit around Odysseus' palace and wait for his master's return. Many long years passed, and most presumed Odysseus dead, but Argos continued to live, just barely, and wait for his master. One day:

[A] hound that lay there raised his head and pricked up his ears, Argos, the hound of Odysseus... (17, 291)

Recognizing his master's approach from afar, Argos lifted his head, raised his old bones from the ground, let out a single whimper, and died.

A sad story, but now Argos lives again! As you can see, he's not quite the same old dog--the BookRags Argos is a bit more active, and has acquired quite a taste for literature.